‘Critical Needs’ report urges building of National Ground Water Monitoring Network

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(WESTERVILLE, OH — September 19, 2012) The National Ground Water Association applauds a new report that urges building the National Ground Water Monitoring Network to help ensure America’s critical need for sufficient water supplies.

Within that need the report specifically recommends, “Monitoring of surface and subsurface water quantity and quality with a focus on enhancing the National Streamflow Information Program and building the National Groundwater [sic] Monitoring Network.”

NGWA has been a long-time advocate of the National Ground Water Monitoring Network.

In the United States, 78 percent of community water systems, nearly all of rural America’s private household water wells, and 42 percent of agricultural irrigation water are supplied by groundwater. While the nation’s people, food supply, economy, and ecosystems depend on groundwater, no systematic nationwide monitoring network is in place to measure what is currently available and how groundwater levels and quality may be changing over time.

“As with any valuable natural resource, our groundwater reserves must be monitored to assist in planning and minimizing potential impacts from shortages or supply disruptions,” said NGWA Government Affairs Director Christine Reimer. “Just as one cannot effectively oversee the nation’s economy without key data, one cannot adequately address the nation’s food, energy, economic, and drinking water security without understanding the extent, availability, and sustainability of the critical commodity — groundwater.”

Congress has authorized a national groundwater monitoring network, and proponents are seeking federal funding to build it.

“In the face of current and anticipated water supply shortages, public and private sector water professionals have put out the call over the years for increased groundwater monitoring and the dissemination of the resulting data to the nation — and the need to take action continues to this day,” Reimer said.

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NGWA, a nonprofit organization composed of U.S. and international groundwater professionals — contractors, equipment manufacturers, suppliers, scientists, and engineers — is dedicated to advancing groundwater knowledge. NGWA’s vision is to be the leading groundwater association that advocates the responsible development, management, and use of water.